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It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!

I ended up at Adès' The Tempest Met theater broadcast a bit randomly this weekend, but what a fantastic experience the opera turned out to be. I personally find the libretto (and singing in English!) a bit quirky and uncomfortable, and I thought the resolution in Act III a bit contrived and rushed, but the music was so captivating.

I was largely unfamiliar with the opera, this production, and have read little since, but I imagine each person probably has his own strong opinion on the music, e.g. such an audacious character such as Ariel. I ate it all up. Gorgeous and captivating. Bravo and brava to Keenlyside as Prospero, and Luna as Ariel. I spoke softly the rest of the weekend in Luna's honor; I'm not a singer, and know little about the mechanics, but ouch!

Aria: Five Fathoms Deep

Five fathoms deepYour father liesThese are pearlsThat were his eyesNothing of himThat was mortalIs the same.His bones are coralHe has sufferedA sea changeInto somethingRich and strangeSea-nymphs hourlyRing his knell.I can hear themDing dong bell

I've only heard Darknesse Visible and Trace'd Overhead, which are both intriguing, but have never seen the scores. Quite a few pianists have taken them up.

Adès is a very fine pianist himself (he first came to prominence as a pianist, playing a Bartok Concerto in the BBC Young Musician competition as well as his own music), and his recording of Schubert's 'Trout' Quintet is one of the best around. His piano writing, however, sounds quite individual to my ears.

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"I don't play accurately - anyone can play accurately - but I play with wonderful expression. As far as the piano is concerned, sentiment is my forte. I keep science for Life."